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When you make a living -- or, I should say, a killing -- hooking kids on a lethal product, you can’t get too attached to the truth.
Take the tobacco industry, please.
No surprise here: the industry is fighting Amendment 72, a proposal to increase Colorado’s tobacco tax. And the industry’s arguments are about as accurate as the health claims it used to make.
Opponents call Amendment 72 a “blank check” -- an attack that fact-checkers have exposed as misleading and false. As 9News and Fox 31 have noted, the measure spells out exactly where the revenue will ...

It takes teamwork to pull off an event with over 500 people attending, and that’s exactly what it took for Tribute 2016.
Everyone played a role in making Tribute a success, from all of us on staff to our boards, co-chairs, and volunteers.
The list is long and we can’t thank people enough for sharing their stories and their support. Their contributions filled the night with special moments:
Thank you to Bianca Mikahn, Kasey Sparacio, and Tony Fuller for sharing their very personal stories of ups and downs, unmasking mental illness.
Thank you to the honorees ...

Mental Health Colorado is active in the state legislature. Our mission is to engage the public and policymakers on mental health issues.
Our policy team tracked 40 bills in this year’s legislative session: we supported 17 bills, all but four passed. We also opposed four bills, all were defeated. And Mental Health Colorado monitored the remaining 19 bills.
To see our entire public policy report click here.
Mental Health Colorado is also committed to informing the public by creating a scorecard on how legislators voted on bills we tracked. To see how your ...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here you will find many of the events and activities we have planned for this month in one place.
Also, Mental Health Colorado's theme for the month is 'get screened.' You will find the screenings on our website: mentalhealthcolorado.org/screenings.
Calendar of Events
May 2nd: May is Mental Health Month Proclamation ceremony at capitol. People take the mental health screening tests to go with our “get screened” theme for the month. All week tables are set up at the capitol, 1st floor north foyer, with literature on ...

What stops Coloradans from getting the mental health care they need? We’ve embarked on a statewide listening tour to find out.
We held our first “Conversation with Colorado” in Pueblo on March 30. The event drew a standing-room-only crowd of 70 providers, family members, and people who had experienced mental health or substance use disorders.
Among our findings:
1)Most participants said they were either not satisfied (59%) or only somewhat satisfied (34%) with the mental health services in their community.
2)The cost of treatment ranked (at 21%) as the ...

Those willing to speak publicly and advocate passionately for mental health often have personal journeys that lead them to that place.
Linda Rinehart is a powerful example.
After being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at the age of 24, Linda faced an uncertain future. Forced into medical retirement when many of us are taking our careers to the next level, she entered a very dark time of depression.
Eventually, Linda accepted her diagnosis and turned a life-saving corner – not just for herself, but for so many others who find hope and inspiration through ...

If advocating for a brighter future for mental health is ultimately left to younger generations, then a group of local high school students has demonstrated that we are in good hands.
Students from Green Mountain High School and Highlands Ranch High School joined roughly 200 advocates from across the state for Mental Health Colorado’s 2016 Legislative Education & Advocacy Day. Check out this 9NEWS report about the event, which includes an interview with one of the students.
As the leading advocate for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health ...

Navigating the health care system is essential for mental health treatment
With one in four adults in America expected to experience a mental health or substance abuse disorder each year, it is crucial to navigate the health care system to receive the care that you or a loved one may need.
That’s why the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC), and Mental Health Colorado have joined together to offer these tips for understanding mental health needs and navigating Colorado’s mental health care system.
Here is a quick ...